Adjustable dual-purpose chair



Oct. 23, 1956 J. KRIGER ET AL ADJUSTABLE DUAL-PURPOSE CHAIR 2- SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 6, 1955 INVENT0R Oct. 23, 1956 J. KRIGER ETAL 2,767,778

ADJUSTABLE DUAL-PURPOSE CHAIR Filed June 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet [N V EN TOR) United States Patent() ADJUSTABLE DUAL-PURPOSE CHAIR Josephine Kriger and Ida K. Null, New York, N. Y.

Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,548

11 Claims. (Cl. 155-158) The present invention is directed to a structure of a chair which will permit it to be used for a plurality of purposes and which include arms which may be raised and lowered. The present application is a modification of that described in our co-pending application Serial No. 445,844, filed July 26, 1954.

Previously it has been suggested that chairs might be made adjustable, and various constructions of this type have been on the market. Most of them have to do with reclining features so that the chair could be used in an upright position for normal purposes and then could be adjusted so that it formed a lounge or the like. However, such constructions do not lend themselves for the present purposes.

Another type of chair in the prior art is a so-called deck or beach chair. Such a chair has arms pivoted to the back and the latter is adjustable into several positions. However, the arms remain substantially horizontal and cannot be removed out of the way for use as a straight chair.

There have also been proposed chairs having adjustable backs relative to the seat thereof. In one such construction the backrest was capable of being tilted on a horizontal axis. However in various positions of the back-rest it was uncomfortable for the user. Such a chair had no fixed support for the shoulders, and therefore it became tiring to sit in such a chair for any length of time. Such constructions had a sliding frame or back so that it could be adjusted forwardly or rearwarly, but in some positions there was an unbalance introduced into the chair.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the difiiculties and disadvantages inherent in prior chairs of the type described, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a chair which is adjustable in such a manner as to fit into the back of the user to give complete and relaxing support.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a chair having a combination of an arm-rest and the adjustable feature thereof so that the comfort of the user shall be increased. V I

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a structure wherein there is a cooperative relation between the back-rest and the arms so that when the user desires to place the arms out of operative position, there is simultaneus movement of the back-rest.

In practicing'the present invention there is provided a chair having legs and a seat together with a back secured thereto, the construction thereof being any of those already known and in use. The improvement of the present invention resides in the use of a horizontal shaft which is so mounted on the back of the chair as to be capable of oscillation. A pair of arms are fastened to the shaft and there is provided a back support which is linked to the shaft and arms. The linkage is such that when the arms are in the horizontal or operative position, the back support is retracted. Conversely, when the arms are out of the way, the back support is in a forward position where it provides adequate support to the user when the user is sitting in an upright position.

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In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair made in accordance with the present invention, the arms being shown in the out of the way position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of the mounting of the arms showing details of construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the chair with the arms in the horizontal position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing the mounting of the shaft, some parts being shown in elevation, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of Fig. 1.

The chair consists of a base 1 having a bracket 2 secured thereto holding a depending screw 3 which operates in bottom 4 of the chair for adjusting the height of the seat 6. A bar 7 extending from base 1 is linked at 8 to the back 9, having a screw 10 for adjustment purposes. Pivoted at 12 and 13 between base 1 and back 9 is a link 11. Such a construction is well-known in the art.

Extending upwardly from back 9 is a pair of bars 14 which are joined together by plate 15 in order to impart rigidity thereto. The upper ends of bars 14 are flared as shown at 16. The ends 16 thereof constitute bearings in which shaft 17 is journalled. Blocks 18 have openings to receive the ends of shaft 17 which is held rigidly by pins 19. A plate 20 integral with one of blocks 18, as shown in Fig. 1, has an arm 21 secured thereto by screws 22. A bracket 23 is secured to the other block 18 and has cars 24 formed thereon. Arm 26 is secured to said bracket by screws 26. A lever 27 pivoted at 24 is biased upwardly by spring 28. The other end of lever 29 carries a latch 30 which is adapted to be held in openings 31 or 32 in member 16. A stop 33 is formed at opposite points in member 16' to prevent lever 29 from moving beyond openings 31 and 32.

Welded to extensions 16 at 35 are plates 36 having openings therein. Links 37 are pivoted on plates 36 and links 38 have one end 39 welded to shaft 17. U-shaped bracket 40 has wings 41 to which links 37 and 38 are pivoted. A back support 42 is held on member 40 by bolts 43 which permit adjustment of the position of support 42.

In the operation, assuming that the chair is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the user may sit in the chair in a relaxed position, resting his arms on arms 21 and 25. Back support 42 is in such a position as to support the back of the user. When it is desired to place the arms out of position, lever 27 is pressed by finger 44, releasing latch 30 from the opening 32 and the action of gravity will cause the arms to move downwardly, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 3, until latch 30 engages opening 31. Simultaneously back support 42 is moved forward into the position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 3, and now supports the user in an upright or Working position.

We claim:

1. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended position.

2. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended position, a latch mounted on one of said arms and means thereon cooperating with said back to lock said arms and shaft in adjusted positions.

3. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended position, a lever mounted on one of said arms, a pin on one end of said lever, and a plurality of openings on said back for receiving said pin.

4. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended position, said back having spaced bearings at the upper part thereof, said shaft being journalled in said bearings.

5. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended position, a pair of spaced plates on said back, said shaft extending through said plates, said second links being pivoted to said plates.

6. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended position, a plate on which said support is mounted, extensions on said plate, said links being pivoted to said extensions.

7. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in for wardly extended position, a latch mounted on one of said arms and means thereon cooperating with said back to lock said arms and shaft in adjusted positions, said latch being attached to the under side of said arm.

8. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms being fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended position, blocks to which said shaft is fixed, said arms being fixed to said blocks.

9. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms attached to said back, the improvement which includes a substantially horizontal shaft mounted for oscillation on said back, said arms be ing fastened to said shaft, a back support, at least one link pivoted to said support and fixed onto said shaft, at least one additional link pivoted to said support and to said back in parallel relation with said first link, whereby when said arms are in horizontal position said support is elevated and in retracted position and when said arms are in downward position said support is lowered and in forwardly extended, position, a lever mounted on one of said arms, a pin on one end of said lever, and a plurality of openings on said back for receiving said pin, and a stop on said back to limit the movement of said lever and arms.

10. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms pivoted on said back, the improvement which includes a back support opcratively connected to said arms, means for latching said arms in substantially horizontal and downward positions, said support being forward when said arms are downward and being retracted when said arms are horizontal.

11. In a chair having legs, a seat held thereon, a back secured to said seat, and arms pivoted on said back, the improvement which includes a back support operatively connected to said arms, means for latching said arms in substantially horizontal and downward positions, links joining said support and arms, said support being forward when said arms are downward and being retracted when said arms are horizontal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

